The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-09-10
AT HIGH NOON.

ton.
When Pierre volunteered to. slip int
Quinqusmbo to see what the Mexicanl
were doing, it never occurred to him tina,
there was the slightest danger.
Qlirquambo was q little mountain vii
lase, with email garrison, and Pierre de-
termed to appear in the role Of e desertsr.
The son Of Spanish mother, he did moi
look much like Frenchmsn, and spoke
the language Of tho country like native,
But there was one thing that the scout
had not thought OF. Colonel Campoa
then commanding the post Of Q1irquam.
no, had served on the Eastern coast In
the esrly par Of the war. II Pierre had
known this fact ae would have blown out
his brains rather than play the spy in the
vicinity OF the terrible Uampos.
| At sunrise the FrspChmsn walked bold.
iy into the village and gave himself up to
the first sentinel he met.
His story was plausible enough. He
had lost faith in Macmillan and his
cause, and had grown weary Of hard fight
ing and scanty ra!ions. Moreover, he had
fallen in love with black eyed senorita,
and could no longer bear arms against
Mexico.
The sentinel called corporal, and the
story waa repeated. To these almpie
soldiers 1t seemed that the deserter was
telling the truth and nothing but the
truth.
"Ah, that French devil, Bszaineln said
the corporal, she Is frightened, is he not?"
"Comrade," replied Pierre, i'you have
spoken truly. Bazaine is in despair. His
men are deserving by hundreds. They
have nothing to eat, and the usurper is
without mercy to pay them"
SIN few weeks they will be driven
into the sea-" said the enthusiastic COR
poral.
"You speak like q prophet" answered
the spy.
In the presence OF Colonel Osmpos the
Frenchman measured his words. The
veteran listened without showing any in
terest or surprise. His brown, leather
face never changed Its expression and his
esgle eyea were apparently fixed upon the
ground.
Sand you would serve the Republic?"
he asked, coldly.
"Try me" was the enthusiastic response.
SLOW am l to know thst your story is
true2"
"Let me swear" began Pierre.
"No" shouted the colonel, in voice Of
thunder.
The officers and soldiers gave start Of
surprise, and for the first time Pierre felt
uneasy.
"Bind him hand and footl" was the un-
expected order.
Despite his protestations, two men car
ried out the Colonel's instructions, and
then braced the prisoner in ai.ting pcs.
ture against a convenient wall.
"a year sgo," said Csmpos. ~ captured
that fellow near Vera Cruz. shot otfthe
little finger on his right hand, aud he
marked me- here on the forehead with HE
ssber. The william escaped me that night,
but another prisoner told me all about him
He Is not colder. he Is spy. He has
caused more trouble than any other man
in Bazaine's army. Now, Pierre Danton,
what have you to say?"
"The colonel Is mistaken" said Pierre,
II never cav him before and ! am no spy.
My name is Jean Ronyille."
"Look!" exclaimed colder.
A glance showed that the prisoners
right little finger was missing.
"Qnly coincidence" muttered Pierre.
"Guard him WELL" said the colonel.
mo court.msrtial is wanted here" and
the grim soldier walked of.
Securely pinioned as he was, Pierre saw
that he could NOT escape, His eyes royed
restlessly about, but there was nothing to
encourage him.
"The barbariGns," he growled. "Thsy
will butcher mo in cold blood. I doubt
whether they will be kind enough to
hang me. That Campos looks like q
tiend, and the chances are that he Ia even
now inventipg some diabolical torture.
Well, 1t Ia the torture Of war"
Quirquambo did not look very inter.
esting to tbs spy as he sat there propped
up against the cclene.'s headI uafters
There vas plaza and few toattered
houses around 1t, except on one side,
where they had been destroyed by FIRE.
There were no citjzsns. The inhabitants
had abandoned the town, leaving 1t to
the garrison,
"rhere are not more than 800 Of the
yellow rascals," unused the spy. "Lord
Wouldn't / like to see some ef our cavalry
come along. They would take the place
in the twinkling oil On eye"
Just then two soldiers came along and,
lifting Picrrc in their arms, carried him
to the center Of 0 plaza. The captive ct
irst thought that his hour had come, but
the men proceeded in silence to tie him to
tho mouth oil the solitary cannon, an old.
fashioned twelvs.pounder, pointed at the
vacant side OF the square. They lashed
him with his breast to the muzzie OF the
INN SO securely that 1t was impossible for
him 10 move.
Pierre thought Of the brutal British
fashion Ct blowing Indian rebsls from the
mouths Of cannon, and wondered whether
he wac to be ae,ved In the same way.
ut will be talked about all over Mex.
ico," said Colonel Dampor, coming up.
"The French viii get 1t into their heads
that they are all to be treated in this way,
and very few will be willing to lace such
q DEATH"
"Comrade," said Pierre, to one Of the
soldiers, after the Colonel had gone, "does
he meanis?'
"When the MONDAY sun strikes that
replied the colder, ut will be all over"
Pierre looked, and noted an iron frame
work over the breech Of the gun. On
the top Of this was q round object 60
bright and dlzzling that il made his eyes
blink.
II do not understand" he said.
"The burning glass there" explained
the soldier, sis 30 placed that II fires tho
powder exactly at noon. It never fails"
The victim shuddeIed. There was come.
thing horrible in the idea Of being killed
by bright luminayy whose rays had all
bis life given him light and warmth.
He knew that even in the large cities Of
Mexico what was called the midday gun,
was fred in that ingenious fashion during
tho dry season. For six months in the
year there was never clond in the sky,
and the action Of the lens was as sure as
| fate itself,